Only government can make something as simple as dying more expensive than living.
Death sentences are pointless, it's just "Oh, I committed a heinous crime! Guess I'm going to be killed now, oh well".
Life sentences like these provide a lifetime of psychological and physical torment, it may use up more resources but it is by far the most effective method of punishing the scum of the earth.
Such a pity that the western world doesn't have a proper life sentence, nor any way to stop repeat offenders that aren't even afflicted by a mental condition that makes them do what they do